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“[The main thing was] the chance to play in the ACC early,” Howard told me on Saturday night, shortly after his decision. “[I liked] being in a comfortable environment and the coaches are cool. So are the players, and my dad was happy about it.”

Howard is a physical 6-2 guard from California who plays for Oak Hill Academy (Va.). Due to his build and skill set, Howard is a versatile perimeter player who can run an offense and play lock opponents down at the other end.

However, he was an underrated recruit throughout much of his high school career. In fact, when I spoke to him in early November, he said only South Florida had offered him.

Nevertheless, Howard expects to make an immediate impact in the ACC.

“I hope it’s a big one,” he said. “College is a huge transition but coach expects me to play right away with Greivis [Vasquez] and Eric [Hayes] leaving.”

He added that head coach Gary Williams told him that he would be playing both guard positions.

As for his high school season, Oak Hill started the season 18-0 before falling in its most recent game, a 52-47 defeat at the hands of Westchester (Ca.) in the Les Schwab Invitational.

“That loss is still bugging me,” Howard said. “There was no way we should have lost, but it happens. I still think we’re the best team in the country; we just gotta work extra hard to prove it.”

With so much talent on the team – Doron Lamb, Roscoe Smith, Juwan Staten, etc. – it might be difficult for some players to accept a lesser role in exchange for winning.

Howard has no problem with it, though.

“ My biggest goal is to get a ring and be as ready as I can for college,” he said.